( I haven't rechecked the chapter. Comment where ever there is a mistake. I will correct it).
The rains poured down the heaven playing a beautiful rythm as it struck the pebbles. Sidharth looked at the lush green grass of his garden. It looked so bright and content. It looked so complete unlike his life full of void.
Emotions often lead you to some other world. The pain in Shehnaaz's heart was unbearable. She had to let it out. All that she dreamt of was happiness while in reality, her life was devoid of it. She stood by the main door of Sidharth's home, looking at the lush green grass just like him. The thoughts being the same.
Shehnaaz stepped out in the rain as she spread her hands wide and looked towards the sky. The drops of the rain seemed to extract the pains every time they fell on her face, making her feel so light at her heart. This was the escape from the problems. She walked further and sat on the bench in the garden. Removing her sandals, she placed her feet on the grass, which was as soft as velvet. It gave her a ray of hope, a feeling of well being. She just looked at the grass, noting the rhythm with which the rain drops struck on them as her mind began singing a song with the similar tune.
Shehnaaz felt a hand on her shoulder and was annoyed for this time was just hers. Nobody should interfere. Not now atleast. She turned back to find Abhimanyu. She turned her face and focused again on the grass. Abhimanyu nudged her as she shifted to the side, making place for him to sit down.
He kept looking at her while she continued ignoring him. It was true that she considered him her brother but what happened at the office was unforgettable. " Tu gussa ho merese? Mai toh bhai hu na tera Shehnaaz ", Abhimanyu said to her.
Shehnaaz nodded her head in a yes. She fidgeted her fingers finding nothing more to say. " Hurt hua mujhe. Aap kaise mujhe itna sataa sakte ho? ", she said to him with her eyes filled with tears to the limit.
Abhimanyu kept looking for an answer that wouldn't hurt Shehnaaz. To answer directly was the best option. " Dekho Shehnaaz. I'm your bhai outside. Do not expect me to be linient when work is concerned. Woh office hai Shehnaaz. Kaam apni jagah hai. Tell me, were you not late? Agar koi aur bhi hota toh would your boss tolerate such behaviour? ", he said, stating the matter of fact.
" Nahi ", Shehnaaz whispered. " Lekin aise kaun karta hai? Project se bhi hata diya mujhe ", she complained.
" Phir? Acha chalo sorry. Aage aise mat karna. What's done is done now. I can't change it ", Abhimanyu said.
Abhimanyu did his work as a boss very well. It was the brother in him that should come into existence now. He knew that she was not well. She was disturbed and it was bothering him. " Ek baat bataa ki tu itni upset kyu hai? Kuch tang kar raha hai tujhe? Bata sakti hai tu mujhe ".
He asked her number of times but Shehnaaz was not ready to speak up. " Dekh baatein man mein nahi rakhte. Bataa deni chahiye ", He said to her. Shehnaaz had started being emotional. She spoke in a cracked voice. " Kuch sahi nahi hai", she said with the initial words heard as a whisper while the rest simply inaudible. She wiped away her tears. " Sidharth ", she said.
Abhimanyu asked her what about Sidharth was bothering her. " Woh abhi bhi Riya se pyaar karta hai. Mujhse kehta hum dost rahenge. We aren't meant to be together that way. Merese nahi ho raha aise. Mera dil dukhta hai jab woh Riya ka naam leta hai", Shehnaaz spoke out her insecurities.
Abhimanyu sighed at the fact that his brother still couldn't overcome the past. He felt bad. He stayed silent thinking of something to speak. It was obvious on Shehnaaz's part to feel bad as she loved him. How does he term his brother wrong then? It wasn't easy for him too. He loved her but was stepping back. He feared the same thing again. His break up with Riya had broken him. He blamed his anger for all of it. He blamed himself, still.
" Shehnaaz dekh, woh galat nahi hai. Woh bohot ulajh chuka hai. Woh accept nahi kar paa raha break up ko. Woh Bohot zyada pyaar karta tha Riya ko. Pyaar toh nahi hai, Itna mai keh sakta hoon. Lekin woh khudko abhi bhi galat maanta hai.
Usse dar hai ki uske behavior se tujhe chot na lage. Tere saath kitna khush rehta hai. Tu usko thoda time de beta."
" Lekin woh aise nahi hai. Woh kabhi bhi mujhe chot nahi dega intentionally ", Shehnaaz said.
" Usko kaun samjhaye? ", Abhimanyu replied.
Shehnaaz cried and cried. " Mujhe chahiye woh. Please! Mai nahi reh paungi uske bina".
Abhimanyu rubbed her hand and consoled her. " Mai baat karunga ", he said.
This period of time had a great impact on them. They didn't have their food timely. Sidharth did not sleep at time while Shehnaaz skipped her meals. She had grown thin in some days. Sidharth's face had lost the charm. He looked so dull with dark circles around his eyes.
Sidharth sat in his chair, going through the files of the project when Krisha entered his cabin without permission.
" Sidharth! ", she stood by him as she leaned against the table. That was enough to angry him.
" Is this the way to behave? ", he questioned her as he gritted his teeth.
" Aise kyu bol rahe ho Sid? We are such good friends, aren't we? ", Krisha said.
" Tumhare liye honge ",he said rudely. " Dekho Krisha I don't want to put up an unnecessary fight with you. It's better if you stay in your limits. Tumhare jaisa insaan maine life mein nahi dekha hai. Even in the trip , the way you tried to harm Shehnaaz, uske baad se mera man pure tareeke se uth chuka hai.
Most imprtantly, this is an office. Idhar dhang se raho. Are you leaving or should I throw you out of my cabin?", Sidharth spitted out in anger. Weren't the things happening around enough to add to his worries?
The beautiful bond had started to get weaker as the days passed. The two of them were dying to talk to each other but they just could not. Sidharth had been doing well with the project while Shehnaaz was busy with her work. Never after that did she see his face. He did not bother to look at her too. They behaved just like strangers. Shehnaaz was able to keep her life separate from her personal life keeping in mind all that Abhimanyu said. Shehnaaz's nature of being over friendly with Abhiroop had started to bother Sidharth. He tried the best to keep both of them away from each other but they managed spending time together.
The employees generally headed to the nearby restaurant to have the food together after the office. It was the first time that even Abhimanyu decided to join them followed by Sidharth. Though they referred to him as sir but it was just till the office doors. The boss being very friendly with the employees made them love the work too. Shehnaaz sat beside Abhiroop and Ritika. Sidharth sat just in front of the trio, shooting daggers at Abhiroop. Sidharth hated the way the latter touched her.
They ordered chicken 65 , fish sticks and honey chili potato for the starters.They had some drinks as their order arrived when Shehnaaz ended up spilling the drink on her pant. She excused herself and went to the washroom to clean it. Sidharth did not fail to notice anything about her. Abhiroop and Kaushik got up from their seats and roamed around the whole table , showing something on their phones. They were jumping around, laughing hard and enjoying to the fullest. Abhiroop went to Sidharth and received a very rude response as he showed his phone to him. " Arey see na", he said, stretching his arm forward . Sidharth jerked his hand and stood up. " Bola na nahi dekha. Samajh nai aata tujhe?", he shouted , grabbing everbody's attention.
That was so unnecessary but Sidharth had to show him,his place. He should not have dared to come closer to Shehnaaz. That was so strange. Neither did he allow her to come closer to him, nor did he let others try.
" Aap chila kyu rahe ho?", Abhiroop said in a very calm tone. There was no advantage in shouting. They were going to make a joke out of themselves only.
" Abey ae thakele, chup kar", Sidharth said back.
Abhiroop again tried talking calmly but Sidharth was not ready to lower his voice which resulted in pissing the latter off. They started shouting at each other at the top of their voices.
Coming out of the washroom, Shehnaaz could head very loud and irritating voices. She let go of the thoughts for she was sure that they weren't her people. She was blown away as she stepped out. Sidharth looked like he would eat him up while Abhiroop looked nothing infront of him. Shehnaaz did not know the reason for the fight but all she could notice was Sidharth. The way he moved his hands through his hair made him look hotter than usual. His strong built structure, flaring nostrils,messed up hair made her weak at her knees. Only if she could go and hug him right there! It was obvious for any body to fall for his looks but this wasn't the right time.
Shehnaaz inquired of Ritika about the matter and to be true , there seemed nothing in it to put on a fight. She stood next to the two men, fighting as she looked at their faces. She knew that she could calm Sidharth down in a minute but she would not. Shehnaaz held Abhiroop's arm, pulling him back. She hugged him from the front and kissed his chest. That was enough to calm him down. That was what she wasn't supposed to do! The action of hers aded more fuel to the fire.
Sidharth rushed to the two of them and looked into Shehnaaz's eyes, finding nothing. " Haan wahi hai tumhara apna. Sahi hai bhai, sahi hai. Usko hi sambhalo", he said.
" Usko kyu bol raha hai tu ? Uski kadar ki hai tune kabhi?" , Abhiroop snapped back.
This hit Sidharth at the right place. Shehnaaz felt like banging her head on a wall. The two were some crazy men whom she could not manage at a time. " Sidharth dekho..", Shehnaaz said only to be cut off by him.
" Aap toh chup hi rahiye. Aapka pata hai hume", Sidharth spitted out as he joined his hands to her, ,looking back at Abhiroop.
One more word and Sidharth was ready to kill him there. Abhiroop spoke for Shehnaaz , earning another blow from Sidharth." Tu hota kaun hai uske liye bolne wala?"
" Tu kaun hai Sidharth Shukla?"
" Mai jo bhi hoon. Tujhe kisne haq diya uske liye bolne ka? Kya lagta hai tu uska?"
" Mai dost hoon uska. Uske liye bolunga"
" Abey ae machar. Tereko pata bhi nhai chalega kahan girega tu. Samjha? Nikal tu", Sidharth held his collar and jerked him off.
Abhiroop was said to leave the place then and there while the rest tried to calm Sidharth down. How could he when his peace was long lost? Shehnaaz went to him and sat in front of him. He fell silent.
She joined her hands and looked into his eyes. " Kahin ka toh chod do mujhe. Na khud ke paas aane dete ho aur naa hi kisi aur ke paas jane dete ho. Please agar aapko mere paas nahi rehna toh chod dijiye mujhe. Mujhe shaanti se jeene do. i pray you".
*****
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